Hayes River


The Hayes River is a river in Northern Region, Manitoba, Canada that flows from Molson Lake to Hudson Bay at York Factory. It was an historically important river in the development of Canada, and is today a Canadian Heritage River and the longest naturally flowing river in Manitoba.

Course

The river begins at an elevation of at Molson Lake which is about northeast of the northern tip of Lake Winnipeg. A tributary of Molson Lake, Paimusk Creek, begins less than east of the Nelson River. It leaves Molson Lake and flows north and northeast to Robinson Lake about northeast. Just before reaching Robinson Lake the Echimamish River comes in from the west. This curious river connects directly to the Nelson River and was used by the voyageurs to travel from York Factory on Hudson Bay, up the Hayes and across to the Nelson and downstream to Norway House, Manitoba, at the north end of Lake Winnipeg.
Northeast of Robinson Lake is Robinson Falls and the mile-long Robinson portage which was the longest portage between Hudson Bay and Edmonton. Somewhere in this area is Hill Gates, a mile-long narrow gorge. Beyond this it cuts across Logan Lake, passes the settlement of Wetikoweskwattam to Opiminegoka Lake, where it takes the northeast-flowing Lawford River, flows through Windy Lake and over Wipanipanis Falls to Oxford Lake at a point about northeast of its source at Molson Lake.
It flows out of the lake at Oxford House then southeast over Trout Falls to Knee Lake. Exiting Knee Lake, the Hayes passes over a series of rapids and via several channels and widens into Swampy Lake. At the east end of Swampy Lake, about northeast of Molson Lake and from Hudson bay is the Dramstone where west-bound travelers took a dram to celebrate leaving the most difficult part of the river. Including the rapids downstream from Knee Lake, in a stretch the Hayes loses 5/7ths of its elevation in 1/6 of its length. From Swampy Lake it runs through a stretch of constant rapids, past Brassy Hill, rising above the river, and takes in the right tributary High Hill River. The river continues northeast through a small canyon for about, therein passing over the Whitemud Falls and Berwick Falls, and takes in the major left tributary Fox River at an elevation of.
The Hayes River continues northeast and takes in the major right tributary Gods River at an elevation of, and finally reaches its mouth at Hudson Bay, immediately to the south of the mouth of the larger Nelson River and to the north of the mouth of the smaller Machichi River. upriver from York Factory was Rock Depot where York boats had to be replaced by smaller canoes. It was 30 portages and from Rock Depot to Norway House.
Different parts of the Hayes formerly had different names. According to one source they were: "Hayes River" from the mouth to Gods River, "Steel River" to the Fox River, "Hill River" to Knee Lake, "Trout River" to Oxford Lake, and above Oxford Lake, Weepinipanish River and Franklin's River. Another source has: Trout, Bourbon, Jack Tent, Factory, Steel, Rabbit, and Hill Rivers, and the Rivière du Roc.

Watershed

The river’s physical characteristics include whitewater rapids, large lake systems, waterfalls, deep valleys and gorges, as well as tidal flats. It is long, has a mean discharge of, and its drainage basin covers.

History

Long before Europeans came to Canada, Manitoba First Nations were using the Hayes River as ancient campsites according to pictographs. It traverses the traditional territory of four First Nations: Norway House Cree Nation, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, and York Factory Cree Nation. It continues to be an important source of traditional harvesting for the First Nations.
After the arrival of Europeans in North America, the river became an important link in the development of Canada. In 1684, the Hayes River was named for Sir James Hayes, a Hudson's Bay Company charter member and secretary to Prince Rupert, by French trader/explorer Pierre Radisson. At its mouth, the HBC established York Factory in 1684, which served as its North American headquarters until 1957. The Hayes was the main route between York Factory and Norway House in the interior of the continent for explorers, fur traders, Voyageurs and European settlers from 1670 to 1870. To get to the Hayes from Norway House required a short trip down the Nelson River, then a turn onto the Echimamish River. The Echimamish River is a bifurcation river and connects two river systems, the Hayes River and the Nelson River. This route became the last leg of the York Factory Express known as "the Communication", once that was established in the early 19th century, connecting the HBC regional headquarters of the Columbia District at Fort Vancouver to York Factory.

Natural history

The Hayes flows through some of the most pristine natural areas of Manitoba. It is home to polar bear, wolverine, woodland caribou, the ivory gull, sturgeon, brook trout, beluga whales, bald eagles and moose, as well as a wide range of other wildlife. Traveling from south to north, its banks are lined with dense spruce forests, which change to a mosaic of stunted black spruce, tamarack and bogs.
Currently, environmental assessments are being conducted in view of the construction of an all weather bridge north of Wipanipanis Falls where a winter road crosses the Hayes.
The Hayes River became a Canadian Heritage River on June 11, 2006. At the confluence of the God's and Hayes river is a marker to a young canoe guide that died at 22 years of age. There is a stone marker and a waterproof can in a grove of trees on the bluff for people to leave a message.

Economy

Today, the river remains untouched. No dams or development mar its course. It is the longest naturally flowing river in Manitoba and therefore a favorite recreational canoe route. It offers visitors and local people recreational and heritage experience opportunities including canoeing and boating, hunting, fishing, and learning about Canada’s fur trade.

Tributaries